cryptsleeper | Inbox for breathofusir

...Lake rats? They're ugly and bald and they sing the same song. Would've walked out into the water and drowned if not for my new friend.

[ There's an answering mrow from somewhere close by when he says this. ]

Made it to Atr— [ He catches himself, but he's still not used to the new name. ] The Free City. Do you want your cloak back? It's muddy but it's still in one piece.

....That's good to know. I am roughly in the same area still, the fact that these things are happening at all are of a particular concern to a...[oh. Wait he doesn't have to hesitate there anymore.] my boyfriend.

[It's really one of the first times he's said it to someone who doesn't happen to be Trevor or Sypha.]

I don't think it was mine in the first place, I only found it in the skull. Keep it.

Oh. Cool. Thanks.

[ To be honest, he was reluctant to part with it anyway. He's been spending a lot of time outdoors and having something waterproof to keep him a little dry has been invaluable. ]

He should be worried, and you should be careful. They mess with your head with that song, draw you in before you know what you're doing. I've been— [ He pauses for a second, frowning to himself. ] —trying to clear them out from around the lakeshore. At least near the roads. But they keep coming. Not sure where from.

Of course.

[It wasn't his to give, but well, clearly it has a purpose now, keeping Noctis from getting rain soaked.]

The roads are the ultimate problem. I have a theory with regards to origin, as Tsakál has been responsible for trying to create creatures to help with the flooding, but this hypothesis doesn't feel entirely correct.

I've seen those. Couple of the fishermen down here have stories about being dragged out of the lake by a waterhorse. But why would she make creatures to help rescue people and then make more to try and drown them again?

[ He knows she's capricious, but Alucard's right: it doesn't quite make sense. ]

Epythimetikon's skeleton is upriver from the lake, and I know it wasn't like this before the war. What if the dragon's blood got into the groundwater? Into the river?

[ Not that Noctis would know anything about the myriad ways dragon's blood can poison a living system. Just. You know. A guess. ]

It's always possible that one's intentions can go astray, but that feels like an overly simplistic explanation of what's been happening.

[He hates it, Trevor hates it, Sypha hates it, and they're all very damp. It's not a great look.]

Hm. That's...[Alucard's quiet, then he nods.] Yes, I think that's a worthy avenue of investigation.

It'd explain why the song's the same, anyway.

Don't suppose there's any way to test the water, is there?

[ Other than drinking it and seeing if anybody gets weird. No thanks. ]

There should be. Water and soil analysis would be the most helpful and useful approaches, but then the question becomes that of adequate equipment and appropriate spell work to get reliable results.

...How about water, soil, and one of those rats? A dead one, obviously. I can get you all three.

If it's anything like a century ago, we could probably find what we need for testing in Thalass—uh. Didymos.

[ Still not used to that name, either. ]

It's less obtaining those and more keeping the samples clean that I'm concerned about. I have small ones for water and dirt, I'm not sure I have anything rat sized.

[Also, he's not sure he wants anything rat sized, although the idea of someone leaving a dead rat is like, the least weird thing Alucard's had to deal with in bit.]

We've made our encampment though, and I am loathe to leave it.

In this weather? I'll bet you don't.

[ Nevermind why he's out getting soaked. ~~Mostly just trying not to stay still too long with his thoughts.~~ ]

If you tell me what else you need for testing, I can find it for you. Probably.

Well, I'd rather you not be leaving me dead rats. You're not a cat after all, and plants are just as good and reliable for this as anything else.

Let me double check the components and I'll send a list in a few minutes.

Who wouldn't want the cold corpse of a singing death rat?

[ Said dryly. Yeah, okay, he's aware. ]

Alright, alright. Stay safe and dry in the meantime. Getting weird out there.

Who wouldn't indeed Noctis.

[Thanks buddy.]

It is.

I trust everything else is as well as it can be on your end?

Oh, you know. Just getting used to my new existence as an aimless, rootless walking corpse. What's not to love?

[ It might be raining, but at least he's dry in spirit. ]

If I ever find out who's responsible—

Well. They'd better hope I don't.

Mm. You and I are in absolute agreement on that front. It's...more complicated if the status of revived extends beyond simply yourself.

[ There's a very long pause. ]

Maybe you're right. Lot of dead people laying out there who probably deserve a second chance. Some of them are getting it now.

You've got at least one person you care about with you, yeah? Probably makes you feel a little differently about it.

Mmm. It's the perspective of someone isn't only meddling with your bones, but someone else's. Your dead, who don't need to be dragged into all of this.

[There have been....well, Alucard has always been low key furious about anyone touching Trevor's and Sypha's bones, but he'd be an utter liar if he did not admit that having them back was wonderful now. The real secret fear now was that someone might try the same stunt with Dracula and that? That's a thing to fear.]

Maybe.

[ Not sounding totally convinced here. ]

If you can have them with you again like this, does it matter so much about the details?

[ Maybe not the greatest path of thought to be going down, but he's always been a little selfish in moments of crisis. And right now? He's living his worst nightmare. ]

Some days, I care very, very much. Others, the thought does not occur. To call the matter complicated would be a gross understatement, I'm afraid.

...Might be better not to think too hard about it. We're stuck with it now. Might as well figure out how to live with it.

That's much easier said than done. I think that if I was alone, I'd be far more occupied.

Are you okay for living space?

Psh, not like I'm housing an entire family. One room at the Duke's plenty of space for just me by myself.

Plus, it's easy to pay for. I'll live.

It's worth asking after.

I'll leave you be and let you know what our investigations result in.

Inbox for breathofusir

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ftr I binged castlevania today & that ending broke me but this made it better

Good binge choice! :> OT3 is game canon, for the record.

GOOD because I love them and they should be happy

AGREED while admittedly i suspect s3 is gonna be save hector 2k19

well SOMEONE has to save hector

IM SO FUCKING WORRIED FOR HECTOR even tho i love carmilla

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